XN000022-1974-08-14 — Page 12

10

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1974

COMPULSORY SERVICE IN GOVT HOSPITALS URGED

FOR ALL NEW MEDICAL GRADUATES ******

THE HON. LI FOOK-WO TODAY SUGGESTED THAT, AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE TO EASE THE SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS AND NURSES IN HONG KONG, NEW MEDICAL GRADUATES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SERVE IN GOVERNMENT MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS BEFORE MOVING INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE.

+IN VIEW OF THE HEAVY GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY FOR TRAINING OF MEDICAL STUDENTS,+ HE SAID, +1 FEEL THAT IT WOULD DE QUITE REASONABLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT MANDATORY FOR' ALL NEW GRADUATES TO SERVE GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS BEFORE MOVING INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE.+

MR. LI POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT SINCE IN SOME COUNTRIES PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS AND SPECIALISTS ARE ASKED TO WORK PART-TIME IN COVERNMENT CLINICS AT APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT SALARIES OR NOMINAL REMUNERATION.

+PERHAPS, IF APPEALED TO, THERE WOULD EVEN BE GREATER RESPONSE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY FREE OF CHARGE,+ HE SAID DURING THE DEBATE ON THE MEDICAL WHITE PAPER.

MR. LI ENDORSED THE REGIONALISATION CONCEPT IN THE WHITE PAPER AND DESCRIBED ITS APPROACH AS +REASONABLE AND REALISTIC.+

+ THE SCHEME IS ALSO FLEXIBLE IN THAT IT IS PLANNING FOR THE BASICS TO BE COMPLETED BY 1984 AND LEAVING THE REMAINING ESSENTIALS FOR A LATER STAGE,+ HE NOTED.

HOWEVER, MR. LI EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE FACT THAT THE RATIO OF 5.5 BEDS PER 1,000 POPULATION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD NOT BE ACHIEVED BY 1982. THIS FIGURE, HE NOTED, WAS ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS A DESIRABLE ONE FOR LONG-TERM PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY.

HE HOPED THAT THIS RATIO COULD BE ACHIEVED SOONER BY UTILISING EVERY AVAILABLE BED IN GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENT- ASSISTED HOSPITALS WHILE NEW HOSPITALS VERE BEING BUILT.

MR. LI NOTED THAT WHILE THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF OVERCROWDING IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, THE OCCUPANCY RATES IN MOST GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED HOSPITALS VERE +LOUER THAN DESIRABLE, AND HE URGED THAT A THOROUGH STUDY BE MADE WITH A VIEU TO ENABLING A MORE EVEN USE OF AVAILABLE BEDS.

L

/ON GOVERNMENT